Market Day

Molly by the spice booth

Molly off s/v Terrapin and I hit the bi-weekly market in Marigot this past Saturday.  It was fun exploring all the fruits and veggies we don’t have in the states.  Molly’s French is WAY better than mine.  Unlike me, she can say more than please, thank you and what is - damn it...why didn't I hit the Rosetta Stone again this past summer!  So she asked the market ladies what various items were and how to mange (eat in French) them.    

These ladies were very nice

Fish markets have been completely lacking on our trip thus far.  Not anymore as they had two big booths with freshly caught, local fish.  I did not buy any that day but plan to head back another day to get some.  * I have been completely blown away at the lack of fresh fish to buy.  I found nothing in the BVI and USVI.  I realize the tourist business pays better than fishing but I thought there would be at least something.  Perhaps I missed it.  Another astonishing discovery is the strong presents of Salt Fish.  This is salted cod from Nova Scotia!  Yes, salt cured fish shipped from Nova Scotia Canada to the Caribbean….where there are some terrific, fresh fish!!!  This is of course left over from colonial slavery days but it just seems crazy to me. 

Check out the 100 yr old Singer sewing machine in this booth

After buying some veggies and fruits, we decided to buzz through the tourist trap booths.  Most were t-shirts, hats and such with St Martin printed all over whatever item but there were a few local artist booths.  There was also a fabulous spice booth.  I may need to go back to that one.  There were coconut drink vendors as well as vendors selling homemade flavored rums and various hot sauces.  One booth on the corner played island music with CDs for sale. 

OMG!

After cruising through all that, we headed for Sarafina’s – a French bakery with SO many good things it will make your head pop off.  Seriously……spectacular stuff.   I bought two baguettes, an olive loaf, and an apple and peach tart each….which Tom and I enjoyed immediately upon my return to the boat!

This was only a small part of the choices

 It was a good market day.

Lock It Or Lose It

Out of the water and secure

Dinghy theft is sadly a given fact for cruisers here in St Martin.  Historically most dinghies are stolen for the outboard motors.  The dinghy itself is often found with the tubes slashed and partially sinking.  However lately the stolen dinghies are being used for transportation to board and break into boats at anchor/mooring.  Lock it or lose it is the common phrase among cruisers.  We knew this prior to sailing to St Martin.  We have put several security measures into our everyday routine.  Tom purchased some chain so we could lock up our dinghy and the outboard.  In the first week since arriving here, Tom has continued to tweak our new security measure.  This includes purchasing additional chain…multiple times.  While I appreciate his efforts, I am getting a tad concerned that my husband may have a chain habit.  We may need an intervention soon if he continues as our dinghy will sink if any more chain is added!  “Hi.  My name is Tom and I have a chain addiction.”   “Hi Tom.”

Chained to the toe rail

All joking aside, here are some of the security measures that are now standard for us.  Maybe they will help others.  If you have some good ones you use, let us know. 

2 horse outboard secured

Jerry jugs secured to the toe rail

Lift it or lose it.  We raise the dinghy each night.  We are not able to raise it using the arch and leave the outboard on.  We don’t want to pull the outboard off each night and re-launch it each morning.  So we lift the dinghy via our spinnaker halyard on the starboard side of s/v Honey Ryder.  Tom rigged up a three point bridle of chain with a shackle to make it quick and easy.  The leftover chain is then chained to the toe rail of the boat.  Another short chain secures the outboard and gas tank to the dinghy.  Finally a third length of chain is attached to the eye on the front of the dinghy so we chain it to something each and every time we go ashore thus leaving the bridled chain for only lifting it each night.  Our little 2 horse Evinrude outboard on the back rail of s/v Honey Ryder is chained in place.  Another length of chain is run through the two jerry jugs on deck.  I told you…..Tom has a chain habit! 

Rope solar lights

Solar lights charging

Additionally I have 7+ solar lights and a string of solar rope lights that illuminate the deck and cockpit of our boat at night.  We lock our overhead and companionway hatches and we have a steel pole that we jam into place to keep the companionway hatch secure each night. 

Some might ask “Why go there if there is dinghy theft?”  Well….couple of thoughts……1.)  Bike theft was the hot thing in Brunswick GA – it just happens to be dinghies here.  2.)  Theft happens everywhere.  NO place it immune.  3.)  A dinghy is basically a cruiser’s car.  You lock your car most of the time, right?  This is no different.  4.)  We are careful and aware but we also don’t want to let fear scare us into missing special places, cultures and adventures.          

Different Country - Different Feel

Saint Martin/Sint Maarten has a very different vibe than the Virgin Islands.  It’s more….European.  Most everyone is speaking French although bi-lingual/multi-lingual.  People are more fashionably dressed here than the Virgin Islands – pasty colored, fanny pack-wearing cruise ship tourist and sunburned, wrinkly clothed, smelly cruisers aside, of course.  I am not knocking the fashions of the Virgin Islands, it's just more cosmo here.

Very civilized internet session

And smoking.  They have smoking here.  Stylish, pretty people type smoking - not old grandma at the slot machine hacking type smoking.  I was shocked at what little smoking we saw in the British Virgin Islands and even on the USVI side.  

Scooters are back too.  I even saw a few four wheelers.  I know this is a popular mode of transport on St Barths Island as well.  Most of the cars we have seen here are small.  Very small.  Even the trucks are small.   Much like you would find in Europe.  

Olives - love the packaging - perfect for boats

First grab from the store - in a hurry.  I can't wait to really dive into all the various cheeses

And the FOOD.  OMG - the Food!  This will take it's own blog posting but I am in cheese paradise!!!!!

Dinner